Drifting valve



Novf, i923. ATS@ w. F. KlEsEL, JR

DRIFTING VALVE Filed Jan, 17. 1920 :5 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 6, w23. www@ w. F. KlEsEL, JR v DRIFTING VALVE Filed Jn. 17. 1920 5 sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 6, 1923. Llpm W. F. KIESEL, JR

I DRIFTING VALVE Filed Jan. 17. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 attenua 5' 'Patented Nov. 6, 192,3.

Uhtiwiih' SVFE DRIFTING VALVE.

Application filed January 17, 1920.

To cZZfwlwm t may concern Be it known that LVWILLiAM F. KInsnL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and residing at Altoona, Blair County, State of Pennsylvania,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drifting Valves,of which the following is a speciication.

The present invention` relates to drifting valves yfor locomotives', and more particularly to the type which is adapted to supply live steam to the cylinders, superheater or valve chests. V

Various forms of drifting valves have been devised', but most of them require very little difference in pressure to open or close the same. Because of they slight difference in pressure required for opening and closing, such valves Hutter considerably, and consequently it is practically impossible to prevent creating a long period of vacuum 1n the valve chamber. The principal object of thepresent invention is to provide a v alve which will open certainly, and when a slight vacuum is created in the valve chamber., A further object is` to provide a valve which will not close unless there is an appreciable positive pressure inthe valve chambers,

wTo these ends the present valve includes a sleeve which is provided with an auxiliary surface onl which the steam pressure acts to hold the valve open until the pressurein the steam chest reaches a point considerably above the pressure at which thev valve' opened.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be apparent from the ldescription taken in connection with the drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is ak sectional elevation of a valve constructed in accordance with the present invention, the valve being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 isa sectional elevation of the valve shown ineFigure 1 illustrating the valve in open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing a valve similar to that illustrated in- Figure 1. In this case however the weight of the sleeve tends to close the valve, rather than open it. The valve in this figure is shown closed;

Fig. 4 shows the valve of Figure 3 in open position; o

VFigo illustrates avvv modified form of the invention', the valve being shown in closed position;

Serial No. 352,002.

Fig. 6 shows the valve of Figure 5 in open position; and

F ig. 7 is a top plan viewl of the valve shown in Figures 5 and 6, certain partsk being shown in section, the sect-ion being taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Referring' to the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 10 indicates a valve body having two interior cylindrical surfaces 11 Vand 12, the latter being of larger diameter than the former. The valve body l0 is closed at one end by a head 13, but passages 14 disposed adjacent the head, place the interior of this end of the body in communication with the atmosphere. .The opposite end of the valve body has a head 15 secured thereto, as by bolts 16',r this head having communication through the pipe 17 with a steam chest of a cylinder of a locomotive, or with a superheater or other part at substantially the same pressure vas the valve chest. The head1 15 is disposed so as to form a shoulder 18 at the end of the large cylin drical portion 12 of the body for a purpose presently to be described A boss19 on one side of the valve body receives the pipe 20 leading from the boiler", and this pipe is in communication withv the annular passage 21 extending around the valvebody. The inner end' ofthe valve' body is in communication with thisannular passage through the ports 22 extending through the wall of the valve body.

-Slidably mounted inthe cylindricalportions of the valve body is a differential sleeve having a portion 23 yslidable inthe cylinder 11 and a larger portion 24 rigidly connected thereto slid'able in the cylinder 12. The end of the small portion kof the sleeve is closed by ahead 25, whereas the opposite end of the sleeve is open and in communication with the pipe 17 leading to the superheater or valve chest. Intermediate its ends the small portion of the sleeve is provided with a series of ports 264 extending'through its wall which are adapted to register' with the .ports 22 of the valve body when the valve is opened. Suitable reinforcing ribs on the interior of the sleeve are provided to compensate for the metal omitted due to the ports 26. Adjacent the -point where the small and large portions of the sleeve are joined together, the small portion Yon itsl interior is provided with an inwardly extending annular wall 28.` As shown, this wall is frus a se ' passages.

1 Jorts 22 in the valve bodv. l

tra-conical and projects towards the closed end of the sleeve; It is iormedwith the centrallyj disposed f aperture 29, fwvh-ichis'ot smaller diameter than the pipe 17 leading to the steam chest. Adjacent the point where the Wall 28 joins the sleeve, are a series of ports 30 provided tor a purpose presently to he described.

The valve is intended to he disposed vertically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, being shown iii-closed position in F igure l1 and open in Figure 2. lhenfthe throttle vvalve controlling the supply of steam to the steam cylinder is closed and the locomotivecontinues in motion, the rnoveu'ient oi thepistons in the engine cylinders reduces the pressure in the steam chestand superhe'ater, if one is j novided,niul vFurther tends to draw in exhaust `gases and cniders from the smoke box through the cylinder exhaust The present invention' prevents this reduction in pressure. As soon as the pressure in thefsteai'n chest orsuperheatcr ialls beloiv the atmosphere by the slightest amount, they pressure within thesleeve oit' the dritt valve `will also be reduced so that the air pressure actingl on the closed end 25 of the sleeve moves the sleeve from the positionshowvn in Figure 1 to'tliat shown in Figure 2, bringingv the ports 25 of the small portion of the sleeve inv register with the Steam Jtroni the boiler supply through the pipe 2O will thus. flow into 'the interior ot `the sleeve, thence? downward through the ports'f.) into the space 31 and act onthe differential portion 32 of the sleeve, This, oit' course, will tend to hold the valve open. The steam also flows throught-he opening` 29 in the wall 2S, and thence through thepipc 17 to the superheater or. steam chest, thus building up a positive' pressure and offsetting any 'tendency to theproductionot a vacuum in the engine cylinders.` Y Y Due to-the fact that the openingi 29 in the interior of the sleeve' is smaller than the size -of the pipe 1L thepressure o iifl'he steam in the chamber' 35S Vwill he less than the presA sure within the small portion et the sleeve.

'Consequently there is a `greater total pressure to keep the valve open than to close it,

and this unbalanced pressure Will, vnot be overcome'until a sutcicnt pressure has been built up in the steam chest, so that -it may be communicated through thev pipe 17 to act against the underside of the lower end of the valve sleeve. It will bejseen,'thereore, that although'the present valvefopens very quickly and in'response to the'slightest reduction oi the steam chest pressure beloxv atmosphere, it Will not close until a substan- The smaller theA opening 29,-the greater the pressure requiredr'belore the valve closes.

lower head acts to limitthe motion of the 'sleevein one direction.

With the sleeve of the valve disposed as shown in vFigures. 1 and 2, the Weight of the sleeve tends to open the valve. ln order to oi'lfset this tendency and have a valve sleeve which is exactly balanced, theinterior of the cylinder 10 adjacent the ports 22 :is enlarged slightly, as shown at kSlat, Vand the sleeve, portion 23 is provided with one or more spring rings disposed abo-ve the ports 22 when the valve 'is' closed. With this construction it will bc seen that the steam entering through .the ports 2v2 acts onV the rings 35, thereby tending-V to Y.hold .the

sleeve at its upper position. -T'he area ci' the ring subjected tothe/steam pressure is such as to just oilset the weight oi the valve sleeve when the.l valve is closed., y 0n the other hand when thevalve isopen, as-shown'l quired to be overcome in order vto close they valve.

ln Figures 3 and la valve similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 isillustrated, but in an inverted position. The-only difference is that the enlarged bore B4 of' Figures f' 1 and 2 is 11o-t provided, this not being necessary for the reason that the weight oi the sleeve ofthe valve of Figures 3 and f1 tends to clo-se the valve.V f The` parts 'shown inFigures 3 and 4 correspondingtothose 'shown v*in Figures 1 and 2arefindicatedby the same reference `numerals pri1ned .ig'l=`his valve opcrates the samefas thatdes'cribe'd' in connection with Figures 1 and 2,5eXcept that the Weight of the sleevefniust befovercomelibe- 'fore the valve lis opened.V Forthis reason communication betweenl thespace at the in-H terior of the head and the atmosphere. The opposite end 'ofthe'hody 110V is 'closed by a head provided with a passage 133, which leads to apipe 117 adapted'to extendy tothe steam chest,I superheater or other part connected with the cylinders of the engi-ne. A

passage 121 is formed in" the body 110 and 1s in communica-tion With the interior of the cylinder 111 and also has connection with the boiler through the pipe 120 screwed into the boss 119.

Disposed within the cylinders 111 and 112 is a dilferentialsleeve valve comprising the small cylindrical part 123 and the larger cylindrical part 124. The end of the sleeve 123 adjacent the head 113 is closed by a wall 125, the opposite end of the sleeve 124 being opened and in communication with the steam chest or other similar part. Adjacent the differential surface 132 of the sleeve, one of the sleeve portions, as the smaller, is provided with a series o-f ports 126 extending through its wall, suitable reinforcing ribs 127 being provided to compensate for the loss of strength due to these ports.

ln the operation of this form of the invention, the slightest reduction below atmospheric pressure in the steam chest or superheater will produce a corresponding reduction of pressure within the sleeve of the valve so that the air p ressure acting on the head 125, will move the sleeve upward until its upper end strikes the shoulder 118. This movement opens the valve placing the ports 126 in communication with the passage 121, so that steam is supplied to the interior of the valve and thence through the pipe 117 to the steam chest. Furthermore the steam pressure acts on the differential surface 126 to hold the valve open until such time as av pressure sufficient to overcome .the opening force is built up in the steam chest and the interior of the valve sleeve.

Although several forms of the invention have been described in detail, it is toI be understood that the invention is not thus limited, but includes modifications and changes which come within the scope of the appended claims.

f Having thus described the invention what lis claimed 4as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic drifting valve comprising in combination, a valve body, a differential sleeve slidable therein adapted to control the supply of steam from the boiler to the steam chest, said sleeve being closed at its small end and open at its other, the' space in the valve body at the small end of the sleeve being in communication with the atmosphere and the opposite end in communication with the s-team chest, ports in the body and sleeve adapted to be placed in communication when the sleeve is moved in one direction because of the reduced pressure in the steam chest, the ports in the body being adapted for connection to the boiler whereby steam under pressure is supplied to the steam chests, and means for conducting steam to act on the dierential area of said sleeve when the said ports are open, whereby the valve is held open until a substantial pressure has been built up in the steam chest.

2. A drifting valve co-mprising in combination, a body having two cylindrical portions of different interior diameters, the end of the smaller cylindrical portion being in communication with the atmosphere, and the large diameter portion being in communication with the steam chest, a differential sleeve valve having two portions one fitting the small and the other the large cylinder portion, said sleeve closed at its small end and open at its large end, the small cylindrical portion of the body having a port in its wall adapted to be connected with, the boiler, said small sleeve portionV having' ports through its wall adapted to come in communication with the first mentioned port, and to supply steam to the differenti-al area between the two portionsof the piston to hold the valve open until a substantial pressure has been built up in the steam chest.

3. A body comprising two cylindrical portions ofdifferent diameters, the small end being in communication with the atmosphere and the other end adapted to be placed in communication with part of the locomotive substantially at same pressure as in the steam chest, said body having a port through its wall adapted to' be connected to a supply of steam, a sleeve member comprising parts of different diameters rigidly connected and slidable in said cylindrical portions, one part in each cylindrical portion, the end of the small sleeve being closed, said small sleeve having an aperture through its wall adapted to admit steam from said port to the interior of the sleeve when it is in one position and means to supply steam to the annular sp-ace formed between the wall connecting the small and large sleeve and the corresponding wall of the body when the valveis open to thereby hold it open until there is a substantial pressure in the steam chest. Y

4. An automatic drifting valve comprising in combination, a differential valve body in communication with the atmosphere at its small end and adapted for connection to the steam chest at its other end, a differential sleeve sliclably fitted in the body having its small end closed and its large end formed with a relatively small central aperture, a steam port in the wall of the small diameter portion of the body, a port in the small diameter part of the sleeve adapted to register with the said port in the body when the valve is open, and a second port in the wall of the small part of the sleeve adjacent the large part, said last mentioned port being automatically closed when the valve is closed.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WILLAM F1 KIESEL, JR 

